Privacy is important and so are aesthetics. Sure, you could install a fence or wall but those stick out and ruin the inherent beauty of a natural landscape. Evergreen trees and shrubs are the perfect solutions. They do take a little more time to install than a fence, however, with these fast-growing options, it won’t be that long and it will be well worth it.
North Privet (Ligustrum x ibolium)
This dense, dark-green shrub grows up to 3′ per year. The foliage is glossy and very thick, making it the perfect privacy screen. It can be grown as a long, uninterrupted, even hedge and is easily shaped. It has the classic hedge appearance and can be sheared for a formal appearance or a fun one. Mature height averages between 8-12′.
Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x picata)
This tree grows naturally in a pyramidal shape and can reach 50-60′ when fully mature. The height can be trimmed back or shaped to suit aesthetic preferences, however, it will be a tall privacy screen. Plant them close together and they work excellently as a windbreak, too. This evergreen has dark-green, dense foliage that turns slightly bronze in the winter. It averages 3′ of growth per year until it reaches maturity.
Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)
This hybrid cypress has bluish-green feathery foliage that stands out yet still looks natural in with the native landscape. It can reach up to 70′ in height. The trees can be trimmed to create a more formal hedge or left as a tall line of trees for privacy and as a windbreak. Leyland Cypress grows up to 3′ per year. Because of their mature height, they can overshadow the land around them so plant with consideration.
Nellie Stevens Holly (Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’)
The deep glossy foliage combined with the rich, red berries in fall makes this evergreen holly a striking privacy screen. At maturity, it reaches up to 25′. It grows in a broad pyramidal shape, however, it can be easily trimmed to create a formal, even hedge. This broadleaf variety grows 2-3′ per year and is a favorite overwintering shrub for birds and other wildlife.
Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
A sleek, elegant choice, the slender, columnar Italian cypress adds style and privacy. The bases are slender too so they need to be planted rather close together to create a screen. They reach up to 60′ at maturity and keep their columnar shape without any need for trimming. A great choice for a narrow border. This cypress keeps its’ bluish-green color all year-round and grows on average 3′ per year.
Firethorn (Pyacantha coccinea)
Not the typical dark-green coiffed hedge, Firethorn provides uniqueness as a privacy screen and in the landscape. The foliage is dark-green and grows a little unruly. White flowers bloom in the spring and it is covered with orange-red berries starting in summer through the winter. It has lots of thorns that will pierce the skin if touched. This shrub will ensure privacy because no one will dare try to penetrate it. If you’re looking for an unusual or eye-catching privacy screen, this is the one for you. At full maturity, it reaches 8-12′ and it can be pruned after flowering to keep it in check.
Cotoneaster (Cotonester glaucophyllus)
This broadleaf shrub grows up to 5′ tall and makes a dense, solid hedge. The foliage is a smoky gray-green which provides an excellent contrast to the green landscape. In the fall, they produce brilliant red berries that stay on the branches for a long time. The branches are low-arching and spread thickly. In the spring, it produces prolific clusters of tiny white flowers.
From The Herb Cottage: As with any list of plants, not all will do well in all areas of the country. Research these plants to see which ones will do well where you live.
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